Israel Massacres Continue

In light of the ongoing massacres being carried out by the Israeli army against various parts of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, particularly in the West Bank villages of Beit Rima and Deir Ghassana, in which 10 Palestinians have been systematically killed since 2:00 a.m. Wednesday, we are issuing this apppael in the hope that the international community will take immediate action to protect the captive Palestinian populations of these villages:

The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy (MIFTAH)Wednesday, October 24th, 2001; 13:52 pm

URGENT APPEALIsraeli Massacres Continue

In light of the ongoing massacres being carried out by the Israeli army against various parts of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, particularly in the West Bank villages of Beit Rima and Deir Ghassana, in which 10 Palestinians have been systematically killed since 2:00 a.m. Wednesday, we are issuing this apppael in the hope that the international community will take immediate action to protect the captive Palestinian populations of these villages:

Israeli massacres committed against the Palestinian people have been tragically met by international silence in the past. We strongly believe that the international community is legally and morally bound to intervene immediately in order to avoid another tragic event such as the 1982 massacre in Sabra and Shatilla, in which thousands of Palestinian refugees were massacred under the watchful eyes of General Ariel Sharon.

A short while ago, it was confirmed that Sharon stated the Israeli army will withdraw from West Bank towns and villages once it has “completed its mission.” This is alarming, taking into consideration Sharon’s blood-tainted past in which thousands of Palestinians were systematiclly massacred upon his direct orders. What is Sharon’s definition of “a complete mission?”

The villages of Beit Rima and Deir Ghassana have been completely cut off from the rest of the world. Medical staff and media agencies are being denied access to these villages by the Israeli army, thereby leaving hundreds of Palestinian civilians helplessly subject to Israeli military brutality and systematic ‘ethnic cleansing.’

The Israeli government is blatantly violating the most basic human rights, with clear disregrad to the provisions of international law, particularly the ‘protection of civilians’ as stipulated by the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949. Furthermore, the Israei army’s denial of media andmedical access to the villages is a serious violation of humanitarian law and press freedoms.

-Representatives of the international community have a responsibility to protect the Palestinian people from the harsh military measures being carried out by Sharon’s government.

-The international community must not stand in silence while the Palestinian people are systematically massacred.

-The international community must issue clear protest against the inhuman measures of Sharon’s government, and implement tangible steps to stop the killing of civilians in the Palestinian territories.

-The international community must realize that Sharon’s government is bringing the already volatile situation in the occupied Palestinian territories to alarming depths, and dragging the entire region into the abyss of war.

-The international community must constructively work to end Israel’s illegal occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.